A Survey of Substance Use Disorder

Learn the basics of addiction medicine

Addiction can have a devastating impact on society. Overdose is the leading cause for accidental death in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates overdose deaths have increased during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Furthermore, the total cost to society of addiction, including crime, healthcare and lost productivity, is estimated at $740 billion annually.

This two-week course will cover the basics of addiction medicine and help you understand the best treatment options for patients suffering from addiction.

You'll learn neurobiology, commonly used drugs, behavioural addiction epidemiology and SBIRT (Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Therapy) to gain a complete understanding of addiction and its treatment.

To understand how addiction affects brain function, you will explore neurobiology in patients with substance abuse disorders.

You'll also be able to examine withdrawal and intoxication syndromes caused by alcohol, opioids and stimulants. This will help you provide better care to patients who may experience these symptoms.

You will learn how to identify psychosocial interventions and pharmacological interventions such as medication and behavioural therapy. You'll also learn the best practices for when to use these interventions in treating substance abuse disorders.

This course is taught by the experts from The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), which is a national medical specialty organization of more than 7,000 physicians and related professionals. It will equip you with the knowledge and skills to improve the quality of your addiction treatment with patients.